Clasp

ABSTRACT

A clasp having a pair of jaws and a jaw-actuating member slidably related to both jaws to effect closing and opening of the jaws.

United States Patent 1191 Almendarez May 7, 1974 CLASP 1,147,147 7/1915 [76] Inventor: Charles Almendarez, PO. Box 18921 vallelo, Cahf. 94590 3,137,027 6/1964 Birkle 24/260 ux [2 Filed: Nov. 21, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [21] App]. No.1 308,429 143,816 12/1935 Austria 24/260 275,164 6/1914 Germany 24/260 11,977 5/1904 Great Britain 24/260 [52] U.S. Cl. 24/260,24/D1G. 22 14,77 6 1909 r a Britain 24/260 [51] Int. Cl A44b 21/00 [58] Field of Search 24/260, DIG. 22, 243 GC, Primary E i l) ld A, Grifii /251, 263 137 R Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Naylor, Neal & Uilkema [56] References Cited 57 ABSTRACT I UNITED STATES PATENTS A clasp having a pair of jaws and a jaw-actuating Skinner member related to jaws to effect closing 890,241 6/1908 Livingston 24/260 and opening of the jaws 1,022,663 4/1912 Ehmann.. 24/260 1,030,386 6/1912 Comeau 24/251 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures CLASP Among the objects and advantages of the invention are the following: to provide an improved clasp or clamp in which the clamping and releasing action is effected by a U-shaped steel slide member; to provide such an improved clasp or clamp in which the slide member is secured against disconnection from a jaw member sub-assembly; and to provide such an improved clasp or clamp with means forming a part of the jaw member sub-assembly to cause the jaw members to be moved apart from each other upon outward movement of the slide member relative to the jaw member sub-assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing forming part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the approved clasp of the invention; I

FIG. 2 is a view in section, as taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, but showing the jaw members in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation of a modified clamping surface configuration for the jaw members; and

FIG. 6 is another view in elevation showing another modification of a clamping surface configuration for the jaw members.

Referring to the drawing, the improved clasp comprises a clasp body indicated generally at 10 and a retainer member indicated generally at 12. The body, formed for example from a suitable plastic, comprises arms 14 and 16 terminating in enlarged jaw portions 18 and 20, the latter being provided with interfitting serrations orv teeth 22 adapted to grip the material to be clasped. Arm 14 is formed with a relief notch 24 defined by sloping surfaces 26 and 28 and web 30 which is normally urged to its arcuate position shown in FIG. 1 to separate the jaws 18 and 20.

Arms 14 and 16 are provided with slot-like passageways 32 and 34 adapted to slidably receive the arms 36 and 38 of retainer member 12. Member 12 is formed for example from a suitable steel to make it strong and flexible.

The portion of passage 32 to the left of notch 24, as

viewed in the drawing, is slightly higher than the part of the passage 32 to the right of notch 24 in order to accommodate the greater thickness of the end of arm 36 constituted by the upwardly bent terminal portion 40. Terminal portion 40 serves as a stop member to prevent the retainer member from being fully withdrawn from passages 32 and 34. When the retainer camming the upper jaw 18 downwardly into pressing 1 member 12 is moved to the position of FIG. 1 where retainer member portion 40 abuts sloping surface 26, jaw 18 is swung away from jaw 20 by the appropriatelystressed web 30. When the material to be clasped between the jaws, such as layers of a diaper, have been placed between the jaws, the retainer member 12 is pressed to the innermost position of FIG. 2, thereby relation with the lower jaw 20. The arms 36 and 38 of retainer member 12 are slightly convergent to enhance the pressure applied by the two jaws to the clasped material and to frictionally retain the retainer member in place in the closed or clasping condition of the device.

As is indicated in FIG. 5, the tooth-groove pattern in the jaw faces may include one or more transverse grooves, such as 42 whereby the material to'be clasped is gripped against movement in any direction relative to the jaws. In FIG. 6 this two-way gripping action is obtained by. providing U-shaped grooves 44 in one jaw and a U-shaped tooth in the other jaw.

It is pointed out that the embodiment shown, with the notch 24 at the upper side of arm 14, is only one of several suitable arrangements. The notch 24 may be located at the underside of arm 14, i.e. in which case retainer member 12 is not exposed through the middle of arm 14, orthe bending zone for arm 14 through which the retainer member extends may be tubular in crosssection, i.e., in which case the retainer member is not exposed either at the top or bottom of arm 14.

What is claimed is:

1. A clasp comprising a pair of spaced, substantially parallel arm members, means interconnecting and supporting theinner ends of said arm members, jaw members carried by the outer ends of said arm members, there being slot-like passageways formed longitudinally and internally within said arm members, a generally U- shaped retainer member having elongated arms extend ing into said passageways adapted upon movement in the direction of the outer ends of said arm members to close said jaw members and adapted upon movement in the direction of the inner ends of said arm members to enable the opening of said jaw members, and means associated with a least one of said arm members enabling said jaw members to open and close, said last mentioned means including means forming a recess in said one arm extending into the slot-like passageway thereof so that a portion of said retainer member will be visible therein and may be retracted therefrom, such that said arm member having said recess will flex about said recess as a pivot locus when said retainer member is withdrawn to release the clasp. 

1. A clasp comprising a pair of spaced, substantially parallel arm members, means interconnecting and supporting the inner ends of said arm members, jaw members carried by the outer ends of said arm members, there being slot-like passageways formed longitudinally and internally within said arm members, a generally U-shaped retainer member having elongated arms extending into said passageways adapted upon movement in the direction of the outer ends of said arm members to close said jaw members and adapted upon movement in the direction of the inner ends of said arm members to enable the opening of said jaw members, and means associated with a least one of said arm members enabling said jaw members to open and close, said last mentioned means including means forming a recess in said one arm extending into the slot-like passageway thereof so that a portion of said retainer member will be visible therein and may be retracted therefrom, such that said arm member having said recess will flex about said recess as a pivot locus when said retainer member is withdrawn to release the clasp. 